Water causing problems in Lenawee County

Lenawee County motorists were urged by officials to use caution Thursday as rain contributed to street flooding and at least one road was closed by a sinkhole.

County road employees closed Curtis Road to through traffic after a sinkhole collapsed the north side of the road and its shoulder. City officials it they were not certain yet of the cause.

The Lenawee County Sheriff's Department issued a traveler's advisory due to standing water in several areas. Flooding expanded as temperatures reached 41 Wednesday night, thawing accumulated snow, and was followed by thunderstorms and rain Thursday morning.

The sheriff, working with Lenawee County Emergency Management and the Lenawee County Road Commission, reported some roads "are impassable because of high water," and noted roads may also become icy.

"It is impossible for the Road Commission to place signage on every road that may have areas of high water," the statement read. "We are asking motorists to drive with caution when approaching areas of high water. Detour around those flooded areas. Do not risk getting stranded in high water.

"These conditions may be with us for several days."

Adrian Acting City Manager Shane Horn said city crews began last night clearing snow from catch basins and have continued that activity today.

Residents who see water pooling in streets can call 264-4894 until 4:30 p.m. and after hours call 264-4820 to report it, Horn said. There is no place in the city where motorists should necessarily avoid, but they should show caution on all streets, city engineer Kristin Bauer said. A section of Broad Street was closed earlier in the day but now is open, Bauer said.

City officials said residents can report areas of flooding on Twitter by tweeting @AdrianMI and giving their street address.

City crews also were working in Tecumseh. No significant problems were reported, but Tecumseh police advised motorists to use caution when driving through standing water.

Hudson police reported a six-foot-square sinkhole on Howard Street near the bank and post office. The one-way street was still passable Thursday afternoon, though cones marked off the buckled part of the street. Department of Public Works officials were expected to begin repair work Friday morning.

Blissfield village manager Jim Wonacott said there is standing water in Blissfield, but that DPW crews are clearing drains and catch basins without serious issues.

"We're making sure our catch basins are open," he said. "We are not anticipating any problems beyond the ponding on streets that we are seeing."

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Note: An earlier version of this story misidentified which agency closed Curtis Road.